Feed or drawing roller for textile machines



March 12, 1935. FQSSEL FEED OR DRAWING ROLLER FOR TEXTILE MACHINES FiledApril 6, 1933 Joseph. Fosselmap/W Afiorney Patented Mar. 12, 1935 UNITEDSTATES l,99,l?t

Farsi ri'i FEED on DRAWING ROLLER FOR TEXTILE MACHINES.

tain cases, intermeshing fluted rollers between which the fibers are fedor drawn. In this type of instrumentality, the intermeshing rollersprovide an extremely uneven tension or draft on the material whichresults in the formation of an uneven web leaving Weak and. non-uniformplaces in the finished filament. The .intermeshing rollers also have atendency to crush the fibers as they pass therebetween, with the resultthat the finished material is reduced in tensile strength.

Another form of drawing instrumentality, in prior devices of thischaracter, has involved the use, of a fluted roller in connection with aroller having a cylindrical surface. The fluted roller has been providedwith a large number of closely arranged teeth and, in order to procure apositive feeding action, it has been necessary to provide an extremelyheavy pressure between the feed roller and the cooperating pressureroller. As a result of the extremely heavy pressures, certain of thefibers passing between the rollers are crushed or broken and the outercovering of the pressure roller is subjected to undue wear resultingparticularly in the formation of corrugations therein by the action ofthe teeth on the feed roller. In this type of instrumentality, moreover,the extremely heavy pressures tend to bend Q the rollers so that auniform engagement throughout the length of the rollers is impossible.The formation of grooves in the pressure roller has beenavoided eitherby. varying materially the spacing between successive teeth of theroller or,

in other cases, by varying materially the width engagement with thesurface of a cooperating pressure roller. The principal object of thepres.- ent invention is to provide a feed roller which incorporates theadvantages of the invention disclosed in the copending application withnone of the above noted disadvantages and also provides for an extremelyuniform feeding and drawing action.

By the present invention, the spreading and flaring action which occursin prior feeding devices is entirely eliminated, thereby avoiding theuse of guides and resulting in the formation of an extremely uniform webor ribbon of material. The roller of the presentinvention is applicablenot only to the long drafting of fibrous material but is also equallyapplicable to short drafting of fibrous material so that the feeding ordrawing instrumentalities are moreuniformly applicable than priordevices which have been limited in use either to short or'to longdrafting.

Although the roller disclosed in the above identified copendingapplication 'is' completely satisfactory in operation and produces auniform web or ribbon by providing a positive feeding action, it hasbeen found, in certain cases, by varyingthe width of lands in amultiplicity of cycles around the periphery of the roller, that a moreevenweb is produced, particularly in the use of the roller in drawingframes.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appearfrom the following de tailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a drawing frame showing one application of aroller embodying the present invention.

Fig; 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sec-'- tionshowing theoperation of .a series of rollers embodying the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section of a feed roller, greatly enlarged, toshow more clearly the in-.- vention.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the novel feed roller is shown in connectionwith a draw box of the usual construction, although the use of theroller isnot limited to draw boxes or drawing frames as will beapparent. The particular draw box shown is arranged for the longdrafting of cotton fibers. The web or sliver 1 passes successivelybetween the positively driven feed rollers 2, 2a and 2b and thecooperating pressure rollers 3, 3a and 319. Each pressure roller is heldin engagement with the corresponding feed roller with a predeterminedpressure which may be applied through suitable weights or springssuspended from or attached to members 4 on the shafts of the pressurerollers. The Web 1 is drawn or elongated materially by each successivepairs of rollers as a result of the positive feeding action of saidrollers so that the web, as it leaves the roller 2b is materially longerand lighter in weight than the web as it passes between the rollers 2and 3. The attenuation of the web by a draw box incorporating the novelrollers may be as much as thirteen or fourteentimes the original lengthof the web and the operation of the feed rollers permits the attenuatedweb to be entirely uniform throughout. At the same time, the draw boxrequires only three pairs of drawing rolls.

Each successive feed or drawing roller is driven at a faster rate thanthe preceding roller to accommodate the increasing length of the sliver,as well as to procure a further drawing operation, by suitable gearingshownin dot-dash lines in Fig. 1. Referring to these. figures, a driveshaft 5 below the second feed roller 2a carries a gear 6- Which engagesan idler gear 7, the latter meshing with a gear 8 on one end of the feedroller 2 for actuating said roller. The drive shaft 5 also carries alarger gear 9 which drives a gear 10 on the third feed roller 2b throughidler gears 11 and 12 on a single shaft, said gears meshing respectivelywith the gears 9 and 10. The second or middle feed roller 20. is drivenfrom a gear 13 on the feed roller 2b through an idler gear 14 whichmeshes with a gear 15 on the roller 2a.

In order to obtain a uniform elongation of the web or sliver betweensuccessive feed rollers, it is necessary that the web be given apositive and uniform feeding action by each roller and to this end thefeed rollers 2, 2a and 2b are of a novel construction best shown inFigs. 2 and 3. Each feed roller is in the form of acylinder, the outersurface of which is provided with a plurality of relatively largeflutes, said flutes being materially reduced in number from the usualflutes provided in prior art machines. Said flutes define teeth 21, eachof which provides an outer land or surface 22 concentric to the axis of.the roller and of a material width to provide a cylindrical surface oneach tooth for engagement with the cooperating pressure roller. Theopposite faces 23 of each tooth extend at an angle of substantially 45to each other and also extend at equal angles to the outer surface 22 ofthe tooth. The outer surface 22 of successive teeth Vary slightly inwidth from the minimum width of one sixtyfourth of an inch, thevariations being on the order of from two to seven thousandths ofan inchin order to avoid the formation of permanent notches or depressions inthe surface of the pressure roller by continued use of said pressureroller. It will be apparent that if all of the teeth were of equalwidth, they would soon form uniformly spaced depressions in the surfaceof the pressure roller and the latter would then function as a gearmeshing with the teeth or flutes of the feed roller, a result which isobviously objectionable and undesirable. The small variations in widthsin successive teeth are great enough'to avoid a permanent notching ofthe pressure rollers so that the latter are usable over a relativelylong period of time before it is necessary to replace them; at the sametime, the variations in width of successive teeth are so slight that thevarying feeding effect produced on the sliver cannot be noticedregardless of the extent to which the web is drafted or attenuated inthe draw box.

drawing roller 2a, which operates on a sliver of lighter weight, is oneand one-fourth inches in are somewhat more closely arranged than in theroller 2. The third drawing roller 21), which is equal in size to theroller 2, being one and onehalf inches indiameter, accommodates a fineror lighter sliver and is accordingly provided with sixty flutes. Theflutes are thus more closely spaced than in either of the precedingrollers; at the same time, as shown in the drawing, all of the flutes ofeach roller are uniform'in size. Thus, the distance between the centersof successive teeth varies slightly inacoordance with the variation inthe width of the lands on said teeth.

This variation is so slight thatthe flutes or teeth are neverthelesssubstantially evenly spaced about the periphery of theroller. it hasbeen found that the circumferential spacing of the teeth on thesuccessive rollers should be reduced to some extent as the weight of thesliver engaged by the roller is reduced.

The lands on successive teeth vary in width For proper operationf 1froma minimumof one sixty-fourth of an inch by increments of between twoand seven thousandths of'an inch in'a plurality of cycles around theperiphery of the roller. Referring particularly to Fig. 3, in which theroller is shown, the land 22a represents a land of minimum Width whichis substantially one sixty-fourth of an inch in width. The successiveland 22?) is slightly wider, being two-thousandths of an inch greater inwidth than the land 22a. The next land 220 is three-thousandths of aninch' wider than the minimum land 22a. The land 22d adjacent the land220 is the maximum'width being seventhousandths of an inchwider than theminimum land 22a. The cycle then beginsto decrease with the succeedingland 22c only four-thousandths of an inch wider than the width of theminimum land 22a. The last tooth of the cycle 22f has a landthree-thousandths of an inch wider than the minimum land 22a. The abovedescribed cycle then repeats itself beginning with the successive land22a of the minimum width.

It will thus appear that a'plurality of cycles of lands of varyingwidths are provided throughout the periphery of the roller with thelands in each cycle varying in the same manner as the lands in each ofthe othercycles. Each cycle includes'six teeth which. vary from aminimum width through a maximum'width and back to a minimum, and

the roller 2 accordingly has seven cycles throughout the periphery.Similarly, the roller 2a has seven cycles and the roller 21) which hassixty flutes has ten cycles.

The particular structure shown is arranged for use in the drawing ofcotton sliver. The length of a cycle in the roller 2 peripherally of therolleris slightly less than one inch and accordingly substantially equalto'or slightly less than the average length of a cotton fiber in themass of fibers passing between said roller and the cooperating pressureroller. The width of the lands, in proportion to the number of teeth orflutes in the roller, is such that the spacing between successive landsis great enough to allow the web 10 diameter with forty-two flutes sothat the flutes 7 over a relatively smallarea; with very little or,

no clamping action' therebetween. -In this manner, a more positiveclampingaction is obtained than would bepossible with a smooth feedroller or if the lands of theteeth were much greater in width, andthe'teeth were more closely spaced. At the same time, the lands are of asufficient width to avoid-crushing or cutting of the fibers engagedthereby} As the length of the cycle is equal to or less than the averagelengthof the fibers of the material, each separate fiber is held. byeach tooth in a cycle and a definite uniform advancing movement occurs.This result obviously would not be obtained if the length of the cyclewere greater than the average length of the fibers.

By the formation of each of the teeth with flats or lands 22 varyingslightly in width from the minimum of one sixty-fourth of an inch, ithas been found possible to obtain a positive feeding action by rollersof this type, to materially decrease the pressure exerted on the web orsliver by the pressure roller, and at the same time. to increase theweight of material passing between the cooperating rollers. Theparticular angle of the side surfaces of the flutes and the properspacing of the flutes in a roller embodying the present inventionprovide for a definite clamping or engagement of the web or sliverbetween said roller and the cooperating pressure roller which definitelysupports each individual fiber in the web against undesired movement andobtains the desired result, that each fiber is advanced a predeterminedamount relative to each other fiber in the web. This positive grippingaction of the teeth of the feed roller also prevents the objectionableflaring or spreading of the web and maintains perfect selvedges atopposite edges thereof. It has been found that the width of the web inpassing through a draw box incorporating the novel rollers is maintainedentirely uniform throughout the length of the draw box. By eliminatingthe heretofore necessary guides, the amount of waste commonly, known asfly resulting from the drawing action is materially reduced.

In the proper drawing of the web, the successive feed rollers are spacedapart a distance slightly greater than the length of the longest fibersin the web so that no fiber is engaged by a succeeding roller until ithas been released from the preceding roller. This eliminates breaking ofthe fibers and also eliminates the tendency of the fibers to becomedisarranged and no longer retain their proper direction in the web.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the pressurerollers cooperating with the feed rollers are provided with a layer offelt 24 covered by leather 25 or other resilient material. By thisarrangement which, in itself, is not novel, the fluted feed rollers areable to form temporary depressions in the pressure roller during thepassage of the web therebetween, so that the feed roller engages the webover a predetermined distance on both sides of the center line of thefeed and pressure rollers. The clamping action by each successive pairof rollers is not immediately released but as the material passestherethrough, the clamping action is gradually diminished, providing fora more uniform drawing action between successive pairs of rollers aswill be apparent. As most clearly shown in Fig. 2, the spacing of theflutes on the rollers is such that the web is positively engaged at alltimes by at least twoof the teeth and at the same time the spacing andthe width of the flats on the teeth is such that a positive clampingaction on the web is obtained without the use of excessive pressurebetween the pressure roller and the corre sponding feed roller. a

With drawing rollers of the type shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the web orsliver is positively anduniformly fed through each successive pair'ofrollers and at the same time each feed rollerpositively supports thefibers against being. pulled through by the successive feed roller sothat each fiber in the web is advanced relative to each other fiber thesame predetermined amount and a uniform web greatly attenuated isdelivered from the draw box. The use of this type of feed roller makespossible a greater elongation of the web than in prior constructions andprovides for a uniform attenuation by reason of the positive engagementbetween the surfaces of the feed roller and the corresponding pressureroller.

Although the variation in the width of successive lands is quite small,the variation is nevertheless great enough to avoid formation of groovesin the cooperating pressure roller and the small variation in width doesnot procure a change in the rate of the advancing movement of the fiberswhich would result in a non-uniform web of material. I

The disclosure has been directed specifically to drawing rollers but itwill be apparent that the same type of fluting may be applied as well tothe detaching and feed rollers of a combing machine or to the other feedrollers in textile machines.

I claim,

1. A drawing or feeding roller for use in textile machines, said rollerhaving a small number of relatively large flutes spaced substantiallyevenly about the periphery of said roller, said flutes defining teeth,each presenting an outer surface of substantial width concentric to theaxis of the roller, the opposite faces of each tooth extending at anangle at substantially forty-five degrees to each other, the outersurfaces on successive teeth varying slightly in width according to apredetermined cycle, the width of teeth in each cycle varying from aminimum to a maximum and back to a minimum, said cycle being repeated amultiplicity of times about the periphery of the roller with theperipheral length of each cycle no greater than the average length offibers in the material fed by said roller.

2. A drawing or feeding roller for use in textile machines, said rollerhaving a small number of relatively large flutes spaced substantiallyevenly about the periphery. of said roller with the opposite faces ofsaid flutes extending at an angle of substantially forty-five degrees toeach other and symmetrically to the axis of the roller, said flutesdefining teeth which present outer surfaces of substantial widthconcentric to the axis of the roller, successive outer surfaces varyingslightly in width according to a predetermined cycle, the width of teethin each cycle varying from a minimum to a maximum and back to a minimum,said cycle being repeated a multiplicity of times about the periphery ofsaid roller.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a memberproviding a smooth arcuate surface, of a feed or drawing roller inparallel alinlementtherewith, said feed roller having a small number ofrelatively large flutes spaced substantially evenly about the peripheryof said roller, said flutes defining teeth which provide outer surfacesof substantial width concentric to the axis of the roller for engagementwith the arcuate surface of said member, with the opposite faces of eachtooth extending at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees to eachother, successive outer surfaces varying slightly in width according toa predetermined cycle, the widthiof teeth in each cycle varying from aminimum to a maximum and back to a minimum, said cycle being repeated amultiplicity of times about the periphery of said roller.

4. A drawing or feeding roller for use in textile machines, said rollerhaving a small number of relatively large flutes spaced substantiallyeven- JOSEPH FOSSEL. 1

